Author Note: Obviously, the game is set in a fictional world. Therefore, many details, like nineteen being the legal drinking age in Ebott, are totally up to interpretation. Besides, even if it is set in an alternate version of the US, which is implied, who says this fictional America does not have a lower drinking age?

Besides this, I should make it clear that Frisk is nonbinary and panromantic, but is still struggling with their sexuality. So, technically, in keeping with the canon, you can decide if Frisk is female or male, straight/gay/bi/etc., and so on, but I like to imagine Frisk considers themself to be agender and inclusively romantic because why the heck not.

Enjoy!

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Looking up at the city hall, beautifully decorated in honour of the 10th Monster Freedom Anniversary (the name was Asgore's idea), you are filled with determination. You sigh, then take a deep breath, and step lightly up the stairs.

"Frisk!" Asgore is . . . selling tickets at the door? You grin awkwardly at him in greeting. "There you are," he says, beaming away. "Our guest of honour. Just don't tell Mettaton." He laughs, but you know he's being completely serious. That robot was, if possible, even more full of himself now that he had his very own game show on the surface world's networks. He was also something of an internet sensation.

You hear a familiar spin on one of your favourite songs, and you know Mettaton's cousin, Nabstablook, must be DJ-ing. Your smile this time is genuine.

"Toriel . . . couldn't make it?" Asgore asks. You shake your head.

"No, she's making preparations for the school trip tomorrow. They're going up to Mt. Ebott, for the history segment on the Underground."

"Right, right," Asgore says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, anyways, I think I've kept you long enough now, my child. Go on in."

Once you've passed his table, you allow yourself to roll your eyes. He and Toriel both still call you variations of "my child" or "my dear," despite the fact that you turned nineteen last month. Hell, you think, I'm old enough to drink now! But then, maybe they will keep calling you that even when you are on your death bed. You aren't sure if that notion is comforting or disturbing.

"Yoooo!"

You turn to your right and see Monster Kid (aka Joel) holding a cup of punch. You go over to him and pull him into a hug, asking him how he's been.

"Oh," he says, shrugging. "You know. Finishing up my classes, applying to colleges, the norm. And what about you?"

You cringe. You knew someone was going to ask about that. That's all anyone can talk about lately. What is Frisk going to do now that we don't need an ambassador to the humans? They all give you the same expectant look that Monster Kid's giving you now.

You study the table behind him for a moment as you gather your thoughts. It's laden with spaghetti, cinnamon-butterscotch pie, and piles of virtually-untouched spider cider, spider donuts, and spider croissants. The few cheese plates have already been decimated. That's when you realize Monster Kid is still waiting for your reply.

"I have a few plans right now, actually," you lie to him. "I'm just weighing my options, you know?"

You hope that the answer is vaguely satisfying enough to get him off your back, but sure enough, after taking a sip of his punch, he asks another question.

"Are you planning on going to college? I heard you got your GED today . . . "

And there it was. Maybe you should be proud to admit that you managed to balance your job as Monster Ambassador and getting your GED at the same time, but all you've been able to think about is how you're just going to have to take more classes, probably online, to get a degree you can actually do something with. Not to mention you have no clue what you actually want to do.

Monster Kid looks like he knows he struck a nerve, so he mutters some excuse about needing to go to the bathroom, and almost trips as he leaves you alone at the punch table.

You scan the crowd for your friends, but don't spot them. Maybe they didn't come this year, you think. These things are getting pretty old hat. Even the humans don't care anymore. You think you saw a few members of the school board and the mayor, but they basically have to show up. You remember the first anniversary party held here, when you were ten. Everyone had been so excited. There had been talk of making the day a national holiday, even. Nine years later, and nothing. Still, you suppose these things don't happen overnight. Even as monsterkind spread across the world, the only place where nothing changed was here, the city at the foot of the mountain where they had been trapped for so long. Oh, the irony.

That's it, you think, getting up from the chair where you've been sitting for about half an hour now. You've made your obligatory appearance. Time for your vanishing act.

You slip by Asgore easily. He's chatting it up with some older human lady you think you recognize as the weather girl for the local news station, so he doesn't even spot you.

Once outside, with the music now softened to a dull beat, you can breathe. You sink to the steps and lean your head against the cool steel of the staircase railing.

"FRISK! THERE YOU ARE! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CALL YOU, MY FRIEND!"

Papyrus's voice is enough to make you look up. He, Sans, Undyne, and Dr. Alphys, are all walking towards you.

"Sorry," you tell him."I guess the music was too loud in there to hear my phone."

"THAT'S OKAY. YOU'RE HERE NOW."

"hey, kiddo," says Sans.

"Hey," you reply. Undyne is grinning at you, so you stand up to give her a big hug. She and Aphys have been away all weekend.

"So," you say to her, "how was the anime convention?"

"OH MY GOD," cries Alphys suddenly. "It was amazing! The best one yet! There were voice actors there, and artists, and I got this pillow, and Undyne and I cosplayed, and I got my tail signed and . . . um . . . yeah. It was good."

She goes quiet and you and Undyne share a knowing look.

"Wow," you say. "I wish I could have gone, guys. It sounds like you had a great time."

"Maybe next year," Undyne says. You nod.

"so anywho," Sans pipes up, "we wanted to ask you if you want to come with us to the bar before heading home."

You frown. "What? Why? There are drinks inside, and dancing."

"YES," says Papyrus, "BUT THERE IS A NEW BAR, FOR GEEKS, THAT WE WANT TO SURPRISE YOU WITH, BECAUSE YOU ARE A BIG DORK TOO AND WE LOVE YOU."

There was an awkward silence. Then, "WHAT. WHAT DID I SAY?"

"oh, nothin'. just try not to spoil it for them, 'kay bro?" Sans winks at you.

"LIKE I WOULD DO SOMETHING SO STUPID. GOD, SANS. WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM, SOME KIND OF NUMB-SKULL? NYEH HEH HEH!"

You start walking with them down the street. "So, you guys know the way?" you ask.

"Well, duh! Onwards!" Undyne cries. She swings her arm around Alphys, who blushes from head to toe.

For some reason, you find yourself thinking back on the day you ran away from home. You went to the mountain, where you heard the stories about kids disappearing, and whispers of an age-old myth. You weren't sure what was up there, and maybe you were scared, just a little, but anything was better than going back into foster care. Of course, if it hadn't been for crazy, determined little nine-year-old you, the monsters might never have broken the barrier. Or at least, they might have never forgiven themselves once they did.

"penny for your thoughts, kid?" Sans bumps you with his shoulder.

"Let me see the penny first," you joke.

"i can pay you back."

You laugh at this. "No you can't."

"maybe not in coins, but i've been told my jokes are comedy gold."

You suppress the laugh, but can't keep a straight face.

"see?" he chuckles. "what did i tell you?"

Giving in, you answer, "I was just thinking about old times. Ten years is a long time for us humans."

"Sure is," Undyne says. "Look at you! All grown up . . . though you aren't that much taller!"

Your cheeks grow hot. "I am so taller!" you protest. "I'm taller than Alphys anyways!"

"H-hey now!" Alphys cried. "Don't you bring me into this, Frisk!"

You all laugh, and amble on in this manner until you reach the bar. You make your way over to an empty booth and slide onto the seats.

Undyne and Alphys are talking excitedly about a new comic book series when a waitress comes by to take your order, and for some reason you're so distracted by them that you fail to realize the girl is talking to you until Papyrus gives you a nudge with his elbow.

"Huh?" You look up and blush. "Oh, sorry. I'll get, um, fries? And the . . . " you peer at the menu's cocktails. "The Sakura Blossom Romance, please?"

You all laugh at the name once the girl has gone away again, and then are quiet for a little while as you take in the scenery and peruse the other menu items. As far as you can tell, the food is only named after video games, animes, and comics. None of it actually made any differently. For instance, the Otaku Cheese is just plain old macaroni. Still, Undyne and Alphys seem to be eating it up, you reflect. They're giggling and pointing out each name to one another.

Watching them, you're suddenly reminded of something else that has been bothering you lately. In all the time you've been travelling around the world to attend debates and conferences and all that, and slowly making your way through your online studies, you haven't had much of a life. You never made any friends in middle school, and you didn't attend high school classes for very long, so you've never actually been to any parties, had any sleepovers, or even dated, outside of your monster friend circle.

Undyne catches you staring at her and Alphys and she frowns. "What's with that look, Frisk? You okay?"

Aw, great. You feel your cheeks heat up again and you look away before she can see. This brilliant plan, of course, fails.

"Woah, woah!" Undyne crows delightedly. "What's this? Was widdle Frisky having naughty thoughts about their favourite girl-on-girl couple?!"

Oh god, you think. The others are staring at you now. "No, not like that. I was just . . . ugh. Nevermind."

Undyne reaches over to punch you in the arm. "Hey, I'm just kidding, pal! What's up?"

Sighing, you shake your head. "You guys just look, well, really cute together. That's all."

"And y-you were j-j-jealous?" Alphys stammers, looking thoroughly shocked. You say nothing, but she continues. "Oh, Frisk, I d-didn't think you cared about any of that sort of, er, thing."

You shrug and pretend to look through the menu again. Across from you, Sans laughs. "i know how you feel. these two are always all over each other, with no thought for us single folk."

You blink. Sans doesn't want to be single either? You thought . . . well, you aren't sure what you thought exactly, but you had never assumed that he wanted romance or a sex life or whatever.

"Gee, I'm sorry, dude," Undyne says. "I had no idea we were that bad." She thinks for a second, then adds, "well, hey. Frisk. You've never really even mentioned having an interest in anyone."

"AHEM."

You all turn to Papyrus. You have a disturbing feeling you know exactly where this is headed.

"ARE YOU FORGETTING SOMEONE? FRISK WAS ONCE COMPELTELY BESOTTED WITH ME, YOU KNOW. WE EVEN HAD A VERY PASSIONATE DATE, FULL OF TENSION AND FLIRTING."

Undyne bursts out laughing, and you aren't sure if you'll ever stop being embarrassed again.

"That's right, Papyrus," Undyne says. "Sorry. It's just that Frisk was pretty young back then, and I'm not sure they knew what dating was, exactly."

"I don't think Papyrus did either," you say, deadpan. Papyrus's jaw drops and his eyes go wide.

"YOU DID NOT JUST SAY THAT."

You laugh into your hands.

"FRISK, YOU ARE JOKING, YES? WAS THAT DATE NOT THE BEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON?"

Since it was, technically, the only date you've ever been on, you nod.

"H-hey now!" Alphys says. "What about our date?"

You roll your eyes at her. "Oh, come on, Alphys. That wasn't even real. You mistakenly thought Undyne's confession was from me, and then we roleplayed you two going out."

Now it's Alphys's turn to blush, and the attention is, thankfully, turned away from you for the time being.

Your drinks arrive, and you hammer yours back before anyone else has had so much as a sip of theirs.

"geez, frisk. you better pace yourself there. you don't want to go BONE-nanas tonight."

"Maybe I do," you mutter.

Sans stares at you, but you avoid his gaze.

"YOU KNOW, THAT REMINDS ME," Papyrus says. "I HAPPEN TO REMEMBER TELLING YOU, AFTER OUR INCREDIBLE DATE, THAT I WOULD HELP YOU SETTLE FOR SOMEONE, IF NOT AS GREAT AS ME, THEN AT LEAST SOMEONE WHO IS SECOND BEST."

"And who would that be?"

Papyrus twists his head around and scans the dance floor. Amidst the flashing lights, you can hardly make out anyone, but Papyrus spots someone and points.

"HOW ABOUT HER? SHE IS VERY PRETTY, AND SHE IS MAKING EYES AT YOU."

Everyone else turns to look, so you follow the direction Papyrus is pointing in.

"Oh damn!" Undyne says. "She is cute!"

Alphys nods excitedly. "And she is definitely looking at you!"

You make eye contact with the girl by the bar. She has long, dark hair, curled to perfection, and a dark lipstick which makes her look like an old-timey actress. Her dress is your favourite shade of blue, and she's wearing kick-ass boots that make her legs look longer than they probably were.

"Go talk to her!" Undyne hisses at you (literally).

"And say what?!" you demand. You're shaking a little.

"Hi, maybe?"

"No. No way. I would need another drink first," you tell her.

She slides her glass over. "You can have mine."

Aw, why the hell not? You slam the drink back, coughing a little at its potency.

"S-so is she your type then?" Aphys asks curiously.

You look back over at the girl. "Well, I guess so. She looks . . . cool. And interesting. And I've got some serious butterflies right now."

"And that she's a she?"

You frown. Has that ever really mattered to you?

"I don't think that's important. I've technically gone out with one male monster and one female monster before, so I guess that makes me ready for anything."

"Well y-yeah, b-but you were nine years old then. Did you even have a crush on either of us?'

You don't answer. You aren't about to explain the history of your crushes. Yes, back then, you might not have fully understood what dating meant, but you've had little crushes on most of your monster friends at one point or another. They were just so cool and awesome. Most humans couldn't really compare, so when you got to be old enough to be allowed to go on real dates, no one had really caught your eye.

You stand up and your friends make dumb little ooh-ing sounds as you make your way through the crowd. The girl is watching you the whole time, and smiling seductively now.

"Hi there," you say when you get close enough for her to hear you over the techno mix being blasted through the speakers. "I'm Frisk."

"Damn," she says. "That's a pretty sweet name. I'm Alice."

You smile, but the confidence it not yours. This bravado is purely alcohol and encouragement from your friends. "You want a drink?"

She nods.

You order two appletinis and start asking Alice about her favourite shows and games. She in turn asks if you've read X or seen Y, and what did you think of the newest update to webcomic Z? You laugh together about the crappy menu names. After a third round of drinks with her, you realize your phone is ringing. You put a finger to one ear and the phone to your other.

"Hello?"

"Frisk?" It was Toriel. "Where are you? It's getting late."

"Sorry," you say, or rather, yell. "I've just gone out for drinks with the gang. I'll be back in an hour or two."

"Okay, dear. Just try not to wake me when you get in. I have that school trip to Mt. Ebott tomorrow."

"I remember!" you yell. "Goodnight! Have fun!"

When you hang up, Alice is grinning at you.

"So," she says. "You were telling me about your monster friends?"

You were? Damn. Maybe you've had one too many drinks. You should slow down.

"Oh. Sorry. Um, remind me where I was in the conversation?"

She laughs, and it's the cutest freaking laugh you've ever heard. "You were trying to explain how magic works."

Yikes. Why were you talking to a stranger (albeit a very cute stranger) about that?

"Well, humans used to be able to use magic too, you know," you say, trying to change the topic slightly. "At least, that's what the history tells us. Seven human magicians were the ones who trapped the monsters underground, under Mt. Ebott."

This topic is not any better.

"But," you say, "that's boring. You probably learned that in history class, huh?"

"Yes, yes, but you were the one who broke the barrier, right?" she asks. "I, um, I've seen you on TV. You were, like, their representative? But you were so young at the time. How did you handle it?"

You try to think of a way to say this without reveaing too much. "It's kind of hard to remember all of the details now. But I fell down there, into the ruins of an underground city. Toriel, the queen, lived there still, and she took care of me. But eventually I wanted to leave, and the more people I met down there, who dreamed of freedom, the more I wanted to help them too. So I had to learn how to protect myself and others to get to the barrier, and to break the spell that kept us all there."

Alice is looking at you in awe. "Wow," she says. "That's amazing. To be so young and have that kind of responsibility. But at the same time, it sounds like something out of a dream."

You nod. It still feels that way to you sometimes. Maybe this is something you can connect to other human beings with. Certainly, it isn't something your friends can fully appreciate. To them, you're still just a well-meaning mortal kid who helped them out. How could they possibly know what it had been like, to be attacked constantly and distrusted, to refuse to fight even when you were near death?

You're getting emotional, and emotions plus alcohol is never a good mix. You think that you should head home soon. Your friends are still sitting at the booth where you left them, smiling at you occasionally.

Your head is swimming, and when Alice comes close to whisper in your ear, you think you might pass out.

"Do you wanna get out of here?"

Crap. You definitely drank too much. You lean back and hold on to the counter for support.

"You okay?" Alice asks. "Do you want to just head home? I can take you."

You think that sounds like a pretty good idea, so you allow her to steer you by the arm over to your friends. She explains that you're tired and have had a bit much, so she's going to walk you home. Papyrus offers to come too, but Alice assures him you'll be fine. Undyne gives her your address and your bag, and you are steered out the bar door.

It's cold. You tell Alice that it's cold, and she puts your jacket around your shoulders.

"I've put my number into your phone, okay?" she tells you. "I'm going to text you tomorrow to check up on you."

You're starting to feel better, actually. You take your phone out to check the time, and figure it's been about an hour since your last drink. Hell, you're actually feeling pretty good. A lot more clear-headed at least. You're losing track of time. How long ago did you leave the bar?

"Did I pay for my food?" you ask. "And my drinks?"

Alice laughs. "You tried, but the lizard lady? With the glasses? She paid for yours, as a present for getting your GED."

You groan. They told Alice you got a GED? Awesome. Now she was gonna judge you for sure.

"Hey," she says, rubbing your shoulder. "It's okay."

Her face is very close. "You're pretty cute," she says, and kisses you on the cheek.

"I . . . I don't think I'm drunk anymore," you say. And it's true. You feel remarkably sober. It's weird.

Alice laughs again. "I know."

"You . . . know?"

She nods. "You remember when you were telling me about the human magicians? Humans can still use magic. Most of them just don't know how. I used a minor healing spell on you just now."

You don't understand. What is she saying? Is she serious?

"Look," she says. As you watch, she snaps her fingers and produces a small ball of fire which floats delicately above her open palm. You step closer, wide-eyed, to examine it, but she waves her hand dismissively and it goes out.

"I can teach you," she says. You start to open your mouth to ask a question, but her mouth closes in on yours before you can get the words out. Then her lips are moving against you, and her hand snakes around your waist to pull you closer. You can feel her breasts against your chest. A thrill of excitement shoots through you, and you kiss her back.

"Hold out your hand," she says, pulling away. You do as she asks.

"This is a spell to keep you safe. Do as I do, and draw this symbol on your hand."

She traces a rune onto her skin, and you do the same.

"Now," she says, and snaps her fingers again. "Snap, and envision a small flame."

You close your eyes, snap your fingers, and . . . holy crap. You can feel heat emanating from above your hand. You open your eyes in shock, but in your excitement, you lose control of the thing and it explodes outward. Flames lick towards your face and you fall backwards, ass hitting the sidewalk below.

Alice is laughing, but not maliciously. Once you realize you aren't actually hurt, you laugh too. This is amazing! You think about learning different spells from Alice, and your friends and . . . you stop laughing.

Sans is standing right behind Alice.

"you think that's funny, do ya? messing with my friends like that?"

Alice spins around, crouching low as her hands light up with fire.

"nice trick," Sans observes. "i can do it too."

His bone fingertips light up with blue flames, which flicker at the sleeves of his hoodie but don't burn them.

"Wait!" you cry, scrambling to your feet. "Don't hurt her! She didn't mean anything by it!"

"get out of here, frisk. i've got this."

"No!" you yell at him. He isn't really going to fight Alice, is he? "Stop it! This overprotective thing is getting really old. I'm not a child anymore!"

"oh, aren't you?" he asks. "so gullible. you don't even know who she is."

Alice shoots a worried look back at you, and you know with a sickening certainty that she is hiding something.

"she's part of a human society meant to monitor monsters, or wipe them out if it comes to it," says Sans.

You gasp. No. It can't be true.

"That's only as a last resort!" Alice says. "We need to be prepared!"

Sans sneers as best he can without the help of skin and facial muscles. "you people know nothing. it's monsters who should be afraid of humans."

With this, he whirls bones about Alice's head, some lit with the blue fire. You have never seen his attack before, though it feels oddly familar, and fills you with a deep dread. Alice, terrified, waves her own magic away and runs for it, down the street and into the night. As soon as she's out of sight, Sans turns to you.

His eyes have gone dark, and blue fire still burns at his bone fingertips. He slams these hands against the wall on either side of your head, and you recoil from him. "is this what you wanted?" he asks in a chilling voice. "you want to play with magic, buddy? my word ain't good enough for you, so you go traipsing off with the worst kind of human scum? what were you thinking? huh?!"

You're shaking, trying to stutter out an answer. You haven't been this scared of him since your first meeting in the Underground, and then again in the MTT Hotel when he admitted that, had it not been for Toriel, you would be dead.

You know he could kill you, easily. Your soul would manifest before you, like it did back then when everything and everyone you met distrusted you and attacked you on sight. A tear slips out of the corner of your eye.

"I'm sorry, Sans," you manage to tell him, your voice quiet and breathy from fear. In a second, the fire goes out, and he takes a step back. He's shaking too, from anger maybe, but he no longer looks like some twisted nightmare version of himself.

"i . . . i'm sorry, kid. i . . . don't . . . know what came over me. i just know . . . all too well . . . what humans are capable of."

You shake your head, and with the movement more tears run down your face, which is burning hot against the cool night air. "And what are you capable of, Sans? What would you . . ." You trail off, unable to speak anymore. Your legs are wobbly, and you sink down the wall a little ways.

Sans takes a step towards you once more, but in the moment you flinch away. If a skeleton could look hurt, then Sans looks broken. Good, you think. Let him know how it feels. The second you've thought it, you regret it, but you're too upset to take it back.

You can't look at him anymore. You stumble away towards the main road that will get you on the bus back to your place. "Don't you dare follow me, Sans!" you yell behind you.

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It's been almost a week since the fight but, somehow, you're still reeling from that night's events.

Your phone is overflowing with messages. Two are from Alice. You listened to them right away, too curious about what she had to say for herself. She admitted that everything Sans accused her of was true, but that she had genuinely grown to like you over the course of the night, and that she thought you had real potential. In the second message, she told you that she would be leaving Ebott soon, and would leave the magic society altogether. "I hope we meet again someday, Frisk," she said, before the machine cut her off.

The rest of the messages in your inbox are mostly from Papyrus, asking when you will forgive his bonehead of a brother, and also "WHAT DID HE DO THIS TIME?" The second to last is from Undyne, with intermittant added comments and words of advice from Alphys, telling you that while they don't know what happened between you two, you shouldn't let such a strong friendship go to waste. You had laughed at that.

The most recent is from Toriel. The teacher's conference had been a great success, apparently, and she would be back later tonight. You've almost called her back about a hundred times already, but you don't know what you would say if she picked up.

Maybe it would be best for everyone if you make up with Sans. Or, at least, pretend to make up. Who says it has to be for real? No, you'll probably leave soon. Suddenly, everything about your life here seems stifling and routine. It was time you got a taste of freedom for yourself.

You're pacing. You stop pacing when you notice this, but this only make you want to pace some more. You can't get the memory of Sans out of your mind, looking for all the world like he could have murdered you. The memory makes your chest get tight all over again, and your eyes are hot like you might cry. In your frustration, you kick a pillow on the ground. It shoots across the room and smacks into the wall.

"I can't do this anymore," you say aloud. "I have to get out of this damn house."

You whip a sweater of yours off the hook by the front door and shrug it on hurriedly, impatient to leave the confines of your home. After living in this town for ten years, you know where to go to be alone, and could draw a map of all the best shortcuts while blindfolded.

You wish you could go back in time, to a save point or something, and redo that night. You would rather you never met Alice than have your best friend hate you. Soon, the rest of your friends would hate you too. There would be no convention next year with Undyne and Alphys, no more sleepovers at Papyrus's and Sans's house, playing video game tournaments and having movie marathons.

Damn it. You're crying again. You smear the tears away with the sleeve of your sweater.

When you get to the bridge in the park, you sit down and sob into your lap. Your feet dangle over the water, and you think you shouldn't have worn such loose shoes. They might fall into the creek, and then you'd be screwed.

"frisk."

Really?

"Oh my god, Sans," you snap at him without looking up. "Can't I just cry on a bridge by myself?"

He laughs. "well, you picked a dumb bridge then. i know this is your favourite spot to be alone."

"Yeah, 'alone' being the main word here!"

He sits down beside you. "i should have apologized right away. but i couldn't. i didn't think that anything i said could have possibly made up for what i did."

Sitting at the bridge with him, you think about your first meeting outside the ruins. When you had turned around to shake his hand, only to have a whoopie cushion deflate in your grip, any fear you had immediately dispelled by a silly skeleton who made a promise to a friend to look out for you.

"look, i know nothing can excuse what i did. i scared you. whether i meant to do so or not, you felt threatened. and i am so, so sorry, frisk. my own fears should not be an excuse for hurting the people i love."

The last word gives you pause. You know what he means, but still. The implication behind the word itself gives you chills.

You hadn't ever told him. You hadn't told any of them. He was your dorky undead friend who loved ketchup and bad puns. You weren't sure why you liked him. You just did. And maybe seeing Alice, joking and using magic and sharing your fries with too much ketchup on them, you had been reminded of him. Try as you might, this crush had never really gone away. Until maybe a few nights ago, when everything you loved about Sans fell away in a matter of seconds and was replaced with an intimate fear of what he could do to you.

Was it even right to like a skeleton? You've imagined kissing him before, but weren't too sure how it would work. Never mind what the bedroom situation would be like. Then again, you weren't sure you wanted it to be like that between you two. You wanted to date him, sure, but sexual attraction was a whole other can of worms you didn't think you could open up just yet. But would he be cool with that? There were just too many problems when you went down this road, so you had tried to dismiss it, to just brush it under the rug and hope it went away. When it hadn't, well, you just did your best to ignore it. And now here you are, with this massive confusion of feelings.

"It isn't fair," you say.

"what isn't fair?" Sans asks.

You sigh. "Ha. Try everything? How I've had to make every single decision about my life on my own, and then the decisions about others' lives as well? How I have to deal with all this now at the same time as trying to figure out what to do with my future when I haven't got a clue?"

Sans says nothing.

You look at him, finally, and he looks back at you. Then (and you aren't sure if you're giving up your anger or if your determination to get what you want is winning out) you lean over and rest your head on his shoulder.

"I don't know what to do," you admit. "Usually, I just pick the option I know to be right, but here . . . I don't know what's right and what's wrong. So how am I supposed to choose?"

"frisk," Sans says slowly. "are you talking about your general future, or our friendship?"

"Both, I think," you answer.

"that's what i thought."

"Why?" You look up at him.

"for what it's worth, i want you to be happy. but at the same time, i'll miss you if you leave."

"Are you talking about my general future?" I ask. "Or our friendship?"

He winks at you. "both."

You bury the side of your face deeper into his hoodie. "I forgive you."

You feel him freeze.

"really?"

You nod, and he hugs you. Your heart is beating so hard you think you can feel it in your throat.

"I know you were scared," you say, voice muffled by the thick material of his hoodie. "It's not your fault. Just . . . don't scare me like that again."

He nods. "i promise."

That's when the mixture of feelings, along with your determination, makes you throw caution to the wind, and you decide to go for it, consequences be damned.

You lift your face up and press your lips against his mouth. You open your mouth and your teeth click against his. He isn't pushing you away. In fact, he opens his mouth too, and you slip your tongue in, just a little. You feel dizzy with excitement, mostly about how this kiss isn't nearly as weird as you thought it might be. It's actually pretty hot.

You pull away to assess his reaction. Your emotions are in turmoil, but you're so happy. You did it! God, and it felt good. You only hope now that the decision doesn't turn around and punch you in the face.

"oh," says Sans. He's blushing (somehow). Like, majorly blushing (seriously though, how is that possible?).

"Oh?" you repeat, grinning. "Is that all?"

His blush deepens. "i thought . . . i mean, i hoped . . . well. just. i'm glad you did that."

"Me too."

"oh boy," he says. "papyrus is gonna be so choked."

You laugh, and Sans laughs too. Then he stops. "wait. does that mean i'm second best?"

"No!" you cry.

Sans considers it. "i wouldn't be mad. he's pretty cool."

You punch him in the arm jokingly. Your eyes are still stinging from your little crying session earlier, but you feel way better now.

"hey, frisk?"

"Yeah?"

"i was thinking that, to make it up to you, i could teach you more about magic after all," he says. "i never knew it interested you so much, and i would rather you learn from me than anyone else."

Huh. "Maybe," you say. "Maybe that would be a good idea if any of those human magicians try to mess with me again. Or if they try to mess with my boyfriend."

He winks. "already calling me your boyfriend, huh?"

Your face reddens.

"just teasin'. but don't worry about me. your boyfriend can take care of himself, you know."

The wind picks up, and you shiver. Wordlessly, he takes off his hoodie to give it to you. You try to give it back, protesting that you have a sweater and you'll be fine, but he won't hear it. Then he gets up and offers his hand to you. You check it for a whoopie cushion before taking it.

"come on," he says. "there's this great new puzzle papyrus and i got."

You get to your feet and, still holding hands, you walk back towards town together, ready for anything.

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